When I think of the Civil Rights Act, I think of the one in 1964, but it was in 1957 that the first major civil rights bill was passed by Congress since the Reconstruction Era following the American Civil War.
The Civil Rights Act of 1957 went into effect 67 years ago today on September 9, 1957.
What it did, in a nutshell
It made it a federal crime to try to prevent someone from voting.
It created the Civil Rights Commission in the Executive Branch of the U.S. Government.
It created the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.
What led up to this Act
In 1954, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Brown v. Board of Education that racial segregation was illegal in public schools. Change was slow to come.
Nine black students volunteered to desegregate the all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. They were met with the National Guard, which had been called out by Governor Orval Faubus, and an angry mob. Two weeks later the nine students, who became known as the Little Rock Nine, tried again to gain entrance to the school. They were able to enter the school but had to be removed for their safety.
U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower ordered federal troop to escort the nine students to and from class at the school. The publicity of the troubles at Little Rock helped bring the issue of racial desegregation and voting rights to a head.
President Eisenhower pressured Congress to enact civil rights legislation. The result was the Civil Rights Act of 1957.
The wheels of justice turn slowly
We all know that deep-rooted cultural and racial prejudices are slow to change. It would be the late 1960s before true racial desegregation would be accomplished across the United States. For example, the county in which I live in North Carolina instituted voluntary school desegregation in 1965. The following school year, it was mandatory.
And it was, no doubt, that long before all black citizens felt safe to go their polling places to cast their ballots. I can’t help but think some of them do not yet feel completely safe.
And in 2024, a presidential election year, there are still threats – spoken and unspoken — and insidious state laws making it more difficult for citizens to vote when we should be making it easier. The false accusations of voter fraud have resulted in many state legislatures enacting numerous new restrictions to allegedly fix a problem that does not exist.
Until my next blog post
I hope you’re reading a good book!
Make time for friends and family.
Don’t forget the people of Ukraine.
Janet
Janet's Writing Blog 
A very informative post. I always thought of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and did not know about this previous act and its history. Well, I am also reading a new book, it is a history of the Napoleonic wars as it affected Spain and it is a series of books, I think seven, but they are not too long and quite interesting. They were written by one of our most famous of the XIX Century writers, Benito Pérez Galdós. Wishing you good weather and a good book Janet, and all the best! Here we are beginning to feel the changes towards autumn, but still very sunny and bright days.
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Thanks for marking this important date in history. Glad to see that the protest for voting rights was multiracial.
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Thank you, Rebecca. I was glad I was able to find a multiracial photo.
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I didn’t really know about the 1957 Act either until recently. I’m reading a quite compelling book. White Robes and Broken Badges, by Joe Moore. He infiltrated the KKK twice for the FBI and prevented an assassination attempt on Barack Obama’s life. This book is absolutely chilling. It makes one wonder just how many law enforcement officers at all levels in the US are secretly members of the KKK. No wonder black people are scared to death to get stopped by a police officer! It is also chilling to learn just how widespread the white nationalist mindset is, how much firepower individual chapters of the KKK have, and how they are hellbent on starting a civil war in America. I think you would find the book very interesting. I’m halfway through it, and it’s due at the library tomorrow. I’d better get off the computer and start reading!
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Definitely chilling and I do recall a lot of “good old boys” when I started in the Sheriff’s office in 1982. The book is one I would definitely pick up. Take good care and all the best. Tell your sister Marie I finished reading “Song of the Lion” the 3rd Anne Hillerman book. Now I am reading a Spanish book and later I will pick up the 4th one. Cooler weather over here…
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I’ll tell Marie. You’ve definitely gotten yourself into a reading mode! Cooler here, too.
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Absolutely! All the best.
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I didn’t know in 1957 the first major civil rights bill was passed. You keep teaching me more and more Janet!
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I didn’t know about it either, Diane, until I stumbled upon it while researching some “OnThisDay” topics I could work into my blog. I only knew about the one in 1964. Glad you learned about it right along with me! Thanks for letting me know!
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I am learning so much. Thank you for your interesting insight into history.
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As always very informative and interesting. Thank you Janet.🌷
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Thank you, Laleh.
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